Friday, August 31, 2012

Strength?!

If you read the day before yesterday's Life with Lynnie (LwL) entry, you'll know that my friend and ex-coworker C, and I got together for lunch.

Lunch wasn't to be at a local Windsor restaurant. Instead, C and his wheelchair were in my van, and together, we were heading across The Ambassador Bridge, to Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Before heading across, I stopped and filled up my gas tank.

I know, I know. You're probably laughing at this, because most people don't do this. Most people go across and fill up their tank in USA, because gasoline prices are much lower, there.

But, I am not like this. I usually don't gas up my vehicle, unless it is absolutely necessary, or unless I am travelling in USA for a while. Why? Because I don't want to lie at the border and claim I didn't purchase something that I was bringing back to Canada. So, to avoid any argument or complication, I gas up here, in Canada.

It was clear sailing across the bridge. lol I suppose it would be more accurate to say that there was little traffic. Which there was.

When we arrived at the USA customs booths, I was behind one (1) car. And, there was one at the booth.

My good friend Murphy, of Murphy's Law fame, was alive and well. Other lanes seemed to move slowly, but surely. Mine, didn't move for the longest time.

Of course, I've always been told that it looks suspicious if you change lanes, so I stayed put.

Eventually, the vehicle ahead of me entered the booth area. Once again, it seemed to take forever for that vehicle to be released.

Finally! It was our turn to proceed to the booth. Oh, but we couldn't! The customs officer turned the light from green to red!

We were stuck there, with vehicles behind us! Yup, when I say stuck, I mean stuck. For about 15 minutes, we sat there watching vehicles in other lanes proceed, while sat there. Yes, I shut off my engine.

Eventually, we were able to approach the customs booth. Within a minute or so, we were released. Praise God! Thank You, Jesus!

Upon arriving at the restaurant parking lot, I knew I was once again going to suffer. Silently, I prayed that God would help me. And, He did!

As I opened the rear hatch door, the wheelchair began to slide. It had been leaning on the door, and was beginning to fall as I lifted the hatch.

A man nearby, who was cutting a lawn, shut off his mower and came to my assistance. He lifted out the chair for me, watched as C transferred from the vehicle into the chair, and even wheeled him into the restaurant.

Be still my heart! I thanked him and even gave him a monetary gift for his assistance! And, I thanked God, too!

Together, we enjoyed a delicious meal and conversation. Thank you C, for treating me to lunch!

When it was time to exit, I began praying, silently. Yes, God helped C transfer into my vehicle, once again. And, He gave me the strength to get the chair into the back of my van.

In much worse pain, I drove across the bridge and back into Canada. Yes, the pain grew worse, when I had to unload the chair from the van, when I dropped C off at his apartment complex.

While I had been praying and while I had been doing all that physical stuff that I now realize I should never have done, I prayed silently a Bible verse that I claim whenever I know I will struggle, physically.

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

I was grateful for this verse that I prayed, continuously as I suffered. And I was grateful that God helped me, even if I was in pain.

There's still more to write about, but once again, it will have to wait until tomorrow.